How many times have you heard it said, “It’s just an expression?” Everyone uses them or hears them at some point in time. While some of us use them more than others, we all know what they mean. I’d like to peruse some expressions tonight and see where they take us.

In my family, I would hear my grandmother say things like, “You can do anything you want until it interferes with the end of my nose.” That was her way of saying, “Feel free to enjoy yourself until you upset my life.” And to upset her life meant all bets were off. straighten up right then or she’d paddle you no matter how big or old you were.

My brother and I were told we were going to

[the same] grandparents cherry orchard to pick cherries. I recall having to shimmy up those trees to pick the cherries. It was a lot of trees and a lot of work! We did this until sundown. When we got back to our grandparents’ house, my brother was told he could go outside and play. but I was caught by the scruff of the neck and told I had to pit all those cherries for canning. I watched my brother skip outside while I was buried in those dang cherries. At last I couldn’t take it any longer… I started to complain about having to do this while my brother was out with our granddad having a great ole time. Grandma cut me off after about two minutes of this kind of talk… told me that this was “womans’ work.” That’s all it took! At six years of age I was all ready wanting to liberate women from aprons. I started in afresh with how unfair this was. And here it came: “Carolyn, you can liberate all you want until it interferes with the end of this nose!”

Did I understand? Yes! Did I shut it? Of course. I had no desire to head to the basement where my grandmother kept her paddle! She didn’t have to say much, did she? That little expression pretty well covered everything.

Another one: “I’m all sixes and sevens.” My other grandmother was English. I could always understand her, but my great-uncle’s accent was so thick, half the time I didn’t know what he was saying. But I understood “sixes and sevens,” which meant to be at a loss for words.

Uncle Alec had a great heart. And, he loved my cousin, Sandy, and me very much. One Christmas he bought Sandy and me these very pretty necklace and bracelet sets. It was the first time anyone had ever given me anything that glittered! I was maybe eight years old and I was very impressed. I just couldn’t find the words to say to him, how much I liked what he had given me. He smiled into my face and told me he understood… “Sweets, you’re all sixes and sevens, now, aren’t you.” And I was. I’m not always impressed by gifts, but when they stand out or are a big surprise, yes I am. Again, it was an expression that said it all for me.

Next: This is one that I found in a Hallmark store. I don’t like to fight. I don’t like to even battle and debate much, which would come as a surprise I’m sure to my sons. One day I had had enough of doing just that with the four bros, and in came their dad and just pushed me and pushed me and pushed me. Well, I’d had enough. I said nothing and grabbed the car keys after dinner to go to town and cool off. Into the Hallmark store I went and there was the very thing I needed. It was even a nice shade of pale blue… easy on the eyes. But it was what it said that made all the difference. I bought it immediately and took it home.

The next morning before anyone was up, I walked like a woman on a mission straight for the refrigerator door. This little decorated magnet would say it all to the five men who had driven me crazy yesterday. I slapped in onto the frig.

One by one the bros came out and headed for the frig to get whatever best suited their breakfast need. They all stopped and read. Suddenly it was painfully silent. All you could hear was the crunching of men eating cereal. Like my grandmother and my uncle, I had risen to the occasion and found an expression that would fit the need.

Out came Hubby. He went for the frig, stopped, read, and backed off laughing. The bros just stared at each other with the expression of, “Is he insane?” or “Does he have a death wish?” Yes, he laughed, but he never came home and pushed my buttons like that again.

What did the magnet on the refrigerator door say? “I love you more today than yesterday. Yesterday you really got on my nerves.”

An expression can say a lot in very little time. It can communicate an abundance of joy or pain or anger without really stepping too far out of the comfort zone. Sometimes we need to step out. But sometimes… we don’t.

May your discernment be wise and your expressions be rich with meaning.

Best… Carolyn Thomas Temple